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2

Tales of Horror

and the

Supernatural

2

Graeme Winton

All stories Copyright Graeme Winton

This is a legally distributed free edition fromwww.obooko.com

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fully protected by international Copyright law. You are licensed to use this digital copy strictly for

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A NECESSARY EVIL PART TWO (THE BUS DRIVER)

I found it easy to walk out of the prison after I found I could shape-shift. The demon power was

now taking up more and more of me. I should have been horrified, but I was strangely ecstatic.

We have unfinished businessin Arbroath, the demon whispered in my mind as I changed into

a friend of mine and made my way to the local railway station. The police would be on the lookoutfor someone answering my description.

As I sat watching the autumn countryside pass by my mind pulled me back to 1975 where I was

walking down Arbroath High Street. I stopped at a shop and checked my reflection in the window.

Hey you! said a voice.

I turned to see Ed Duncan walking toward me followed by his gang. I made to escape, but I was

suddenly surrounded by them all.

Im a hard man, he said taking me by the neck and pulling me down. Now, I want ye to prey

to yer mother before I kick the shit out of ye!

I saw a girl I fancied across the street laughing at me as I knelt and began to tearfully pray to mymother.

I arrived back in Arbroath, and that night a figure left the house I was watching from the dark

confines of Carnegie Park. Ed Duncan was heading out. I flew over the park hedge and landed on

the pavement behind him in the orange glow of the street lamps.

Hey you hard man! I growled.

What? He uttered, turning around.

You youre the hard man.

Look, I dont know what youre talking about, Duncan said, turning around and walking

quickly toward the end of the street.

Oh dont you! I said, landing in front of him.

Wh - what are you? he said, in a trembling voice.

Down on your knees, I said.

What?

Down on your knees! I thundered in the unworldly voice of the demon.

He knelt down and started to cry.

Prey to your mother before I kill you! I commanded.

He started preying as a woman appeared walking a dog. I turned and hissed, sending her scurrying

back along the street.Right, say Im a hard man, and I wont kill you, I said, lifting him up by the neck.

Im a hard man, he said pathetically.

I snapped his neck and then, pulling the dead face toward mine, I said: Im a hellva liar Im

afraid, before throwing the body into a front garden.

I flew through the night and landed in the Western Cemetery where I strolled up the main road

surrounded by darkened headstones which swept off in all directions eventually washing up against

the perimeter walls. The moon rose and silhouetted a huge spired shape, which I recognised as the

Mortuary Chapel. I flew over and landed in front of the building. It had been constructed in the neo-

Gothic style and appealed to my present being.


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As I was about to explore when I was tugged away, and I flew over the town to Viewfield Road

where I landed behind a figure walking a dog. Suddenly the figure turned around and as I saw the

face illuminated by the moonlight I was transported back to the time when I was a 16-year-old

apprentice electrician. I was always a big person, so manoeuvring under floorboards to run cables

was difficult. It was not helped by a nasty Tradesman , Ian Tate, who jumped on any mistake I

made. I hated him, he made my whole working life hell.Once, he pushed me under floorboards and told me he would nail up the hatch If I didnt run the

cables in a certain timehe had told the boss that he would have the job done that particular day.

Now, I was creeping up on the electrician with demon power pulsing through my veins. I just

grabbed the bastard and flew off into the night. I eventually landed outside an empty property where

I kicked the door open and pulled Tate inside.

I know who you are. Youre Ross Robertson, said Tate. Ive been waiting on this I saw it

in a dream. Now youre going to rip up some floorboards and throw me in and then replace them.

What I did back then son, I did for you - to make you hate me and become an electrician despite me.

This threw me, and I stood staring at him for a while before I said: So you know how this ends.Well I hate to disappoint!

I then began to prize up some floorboards releasing a musty smell into the room. Tate suddenly

ran to the open door, which slammed shut. He then pulled on the handle and banged on the door as I

grabbed him and pulled him over and pushed him into the founds of the house.

Youll never know how much festering hate I have built up for you. What bullshit doing it

for me! You boss-crawling bastard! I growled at the strugglingman as I replaced the floorboards

and hammered the old nails home with a brick I found in the fireplace of the room.

The moon shone on the headstones in the Abbey Cemetery within the grounds of the ancient

monument giving them a ghostly appearance. I floated between them as I sucked up energy from

the souls of the dead.

Satiated, I burst out of the graveyard and onto the town where I came across two drug addicts

sitting on a bench beside a car park making howling noises at the moon.

I settled behind a bush and shook it violently.

Hey, Whats that Jimmy? one boy said to the other.

Nuthing, just the wind Dougie!

I shook it again.

Thats not the wind, said Dougie, rising up and approaching the bush with his friend following.

When they opened up the plant I shape-shifted into a giant wolf and growled at them throughlarge canines.

Oh shit run! shouted Jimmy as the two addicts sped away leaping over cars.

Comically howling at the moon I changed back into my human form.

I then levitated up Market Place wondering how long I could carry on like this. The doors to The

Corn Exchange pub swung open and a couple descended the steps to street level and headed toward

the High Street.

I drew into the shadow of a shop doorway noticing that the female of the pair was Helen, my

girlfriend. I followed the couple up the High Street and in to The Pageant pub where I scampered

over the ceiling and hung over where they sat. Things had got so out of control I wasnt sure if Iwas visible or not. I didnt, however, want Helen to see me.


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Eventually Helens date got up and headed toward the toilet so I scampered over and dropped

behind him as the door swung shut. I pushed the door open and stole in.

Helens friend, who was standing at one of the urinals, turned his head and seeing no-one just

shrugged and carried on, which told me that I was invisible.

I tapped him on the shoulder and he looked around spraying his shoes and the bottom of his

trousers.Shit! he shouted. Who the hells there?

Oh dear, you cant let Helen see you like that, I said as I pulled him into one of the cubicles

and slammed the door shut. I then grabbed him and smashed through the window and flew over to

the ancient abbey and placed him on the bottom of the glassless rim of the south transept window,

known locally as the Round O, some 100 metres from the ground.

Now be a good boy and hang on here until someone sees you in the morning,

Jesus! Are you the devil or something? he wailed.

No, none of the above, just someone whos paying a high price for being stupid, I said as I flew

off.Slumping into a doorway I waited across from the Pageant pub. Eventually Helen appeared with

a man. They walked along Ponderlaw Street toward her house. I followed in the shadows.

The man pulled Helen into a hedge lined front garden and forced himself onto her.

Stop it Norrie, she screamed. I just want to go home.

He ignored her plea and carried on. I grabbed him and threw him away with such force that I

knew he wouldnt survive. I then stepped back into the shadow cast by the hedge.

Oh, said Helen, I know its you Ross.

Look Helen I didnt mean to follow you.

Its just as well you did.

She walked toward me. Let me see you.

I walked out into the open.

Oh dear, gasped Helen. Whats happened to you Ross?

I crossed a line Helen. A line I cant re-cross.

You look different white skin - red eyes.

I cant stay. I justwanted to talk to you one more time.

The police are turning Arbroath upside down looking for you. And a body was found in

Strachan Street this morning; was that you?

Its not me Helen. Please believe that.

I do.I have to go, I said, turning. Oh, I forgot, I continued, turning back, your boyfriend is

clinging to the Round O at the abbey.

Hes not my boyfriend and well leave him there until morning he was starting to bore

me!

I flew over the darkened parkland toward the sea with demonic laughing in my head. I landed

beside a bus where a bunch of youths were kicking another youth in a white jacket. I realised that I

had flown back in time and that what I saw was me being set upon by a gang of thugs from Dundee,

who roamed around the local area looking for trouble.

I flew under the ground and then rose slowly out of the ground beside my younger self. I thenmade the whole area lift up and fall.


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Now I have your attention please stop that it hurts me! I said as I circled the whole mob at

great speed.

What the fucks this! shouted a youth as he ran on to the bus followed by the others.

I pulled my younger self up and said: Youd better get yourself home, your mother will be

worried.

I watched the fear and questions in his eyes. Ill deal with this lot, I said looking toward thecoach.

Watching myself run away I turned to the bus and its violent inhabitants realising that I was to

be the eternal bus driver for these souls. A guide was required and I had been chosen.

The driver, who had now returned, tried to ignite the engine. I waved a hand and the electrics cut

out. I then levitated around the vehicle with eyes burning red. The bus driver ran out of the open

door, which I shut stopping the others leaving.

The coach door opened and I walked in and sat in the drivers seat. The door zipped shut as I

turned to my hosts and said in the grating voice of the demon: So you like danger and causing

trouble do you lads! Well, strap yourselves in for a hellva ride!

Copyright Graeme Winton 2013


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SLEEPING PARTNER

I stood in the shadow of Ripon Cathedrals south side wrapped in the dark and gazed down the

natural slope of the graveyard. A swirling mist engulfed the lower part and made the headstones

look as if they were moving. The orange glow of streetlamps fought against the dark in the distance.

Organ music drifted out of the cathedral as I flowed out of the shadows and levitated uprightdown the hill and mingled with the mist. Ecstasy gripped me as the long departed souls from the

ancient graves flowed back and caressed my core. If I were alive it would have been an orgasmic

experience.

I laughed as I gazed up at the dark mass of the cathedral, which seemed to hover above the fog. I

then drifted onto the street at the back of the graveyard with menacing energy flowing through me.

A man walking his dog passed me. I growled! He turned around, but seeing nothing he hurried

away.

I drifted through a walkway and drew back into the shadows as two women walked toward the

town centre. I laughed out evilly. One woman screamed, the other turned and said: Whos there? One who is neither here nor there! I rasped.

Show yourself! shouted the woman who previously spoke.

Come on Izzie, said the other woman, anxiously pulling her friend.

I crawled away along the walls of the walkway cackling as the women scurried away.

In the town square nine PM rang, and a crowd gathered as I flew among the rooftops. A man in a

long, grey coat started to blow a horn as the crowd cheered, so I landed next to him and blew in his

ear. I then raised him up through the cold air before leaving him balancing on top of the tall obelisk

which dominated the square.

The Hornblower screamed as he plunged through the air toward the ground. The crowd screamed

in horror as they watched with unbelieving eyes - the man thump into the cobbled ground.

As his soul left I flowed in and raised the crumpled body and made it dance in front of the dazed

crowd. Mothers grabbed their crying children and ran towards their cars.

What devilry is this? shouted a vicar.

You aint seen nothing yet. I said as I made the mans head spin.

I then felt myself being tugged up into the air. I watched as Ripon became smaller and smaller

before disappearing.

I opened my eyes briefly and watched lights dance around my darkened living room as cars passed

outside. What a weird dream, I thought. I had fallen asleep on my settee. I looked at my watch and

drifted back to sleep.

I stood in the shadow of a shop doorway in Stonegate York and gazed along the ancient street

toward the illuminated mass of the Minster. A strong wind blew litter along the street as the last of

the shoppers scurried past brightly-lit windows. I screamed as I flew up and over them. Suddenly, I

was dragged into an old room above a shop advertising a haunted house.

I found myself hovering over a group sitting around a large circular table with a crystal ball in the

middle. They had their arms stretched out at either side with hands held.

As I heard them ask if anyone was there I grabbed the breasts of one of the females who instantly

began screaming. The room then erupted into chaos as I grabbed one of the men by the testiclesand threw him onto the table.


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Whats going on, screamed a panicking woman.

Well, you asked if anyone was there Im here! I rasped.

I walked into the ornate vastness that was York Minster and strolled along the Nave as the choir

boys were bringing Evensong to a close. The admission desks were closed and the attendants were

beginning to close the cathedral. The last few tourists lingered in the light before heading out intothe dark.

Gazing up into the Central Tower I held my arms out in a cruciform shape and rose up into the air.

I began to revolve, slowly at first, but becoming faster and faster. I set up a vortex and screamed

like a banshee as I spun.

Choir boys and tourists shrieked and ran for cover as an internal storm raged. Candles were

snuffed out, sacred cloths and drapes were dragged along the floor and then sucked up into the

vortex. Suddenly the tower windows imploded and the swirling air was filled with a million deadly

shards of glass.

I woke up, slipped off the settee and opened the curtains. The sun was shining through afreezing fog.Another weird dream, I thought,just much more intense this time. I showered, dressed

then left for work after gulping a cup of coffee.

After another boring day serving the public I left the store and walked home through the frozen

Wetherby streets. I bought the Yorkshire Evening Post on the way home intrigued by the headline

York Minster Vandalised on the billboard outside a newsagent.

The warmth from the central heating system greeted me as I opened my front door. Grabbing the

mail I headed into the kitchen where I flicked on the kettle. Then, in the lounge I sat down to read

the newspaper.

Apparently the cathedral in York had been subject to a storm which blew through the interior

and smashed the tower windows. Investigators were puzzled that the windows blew inwards rather

than outwards as would have been expected. All the events happened with the door shut.

I stopped reading and gazed at the ceiling. Snatches of last nights dream came to me. Nah, just

coincidence, I told myself.

The kettle clicked so I folded up the paper and was about to throw it on the carpet when I saw

the small headline: Odd Happenings in Ripon Results in Death. A local Hornblower was bizarrely

hoisted up to the top of the obelisk in the town square and then fell to his death in front of a

gathering. Coincidence? I asked myself.

I burst through, and out of, the cold turf into a night where a wind blew specks of snow horizontally.I looked around. I was in the graveyard of a massive dark structure. I realised the building was a

cathedral when I saw the illuminated Gothic windows.

Keeping to the shadows I moved round to the front and then crossed a grassed courtyard. I turned

and looked up at what I realised was the West Front of Peterborough Cathedral. Suddenly I heard a

moan and looked in the direction. What seemed to be a thousand dead souls rushed at me and

scooped me up. Together we ascended, swirling high into the sky as the snow stopped.

Eventually, I was set down on Long Causeway one of the main shopping streets. I immediately

shape-shifted into a beggar and sat in a shop doorway. No one paid much attention to me except for

a bunch of kids who mocked me and threatened to take my money. I stood up, and they ran off, so Isat down again and watched the people of the night. Eventually, the snow and the kids returned.


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They stood around me in a semicircle, and one youth told me to hand over my money or I would get

a kicking.

Shifting into a vampire I shot up and grabbed the youth. I exposed his neck and sank my fangs

into his soft flesh. After sucking his blood I tore away half his throat. Then looking up at the

stunned other kids, with blood dripping from my fangs, I asked in a rasping voice: Whos next?

Awoken from the shock they ran off screaming into the night. I laughed as I dropped the deadbody and then, assuming my human form, I disappeared into the snow-flecked darkness.

I heard the moan as I was engulfed and then swept up by the dead souls. I was carried over the

buildings toward the black mass of the cathedral. I screamed as they carried me toward the snow

covered cemetery and the open grave that I had burst out of.

Down I went into the black, open maw. No, no, I shrieked. Then, I woke up shaking and

switched on my bedside light. Placing my hands on the comforting feel of my bed I began to calm

down.

I left my bed, showered and dressed. I sat ready for work determined that there would be no more

sleep for me.The next day I became alarmed after reading about a young man found dead in Peterborough

with his throat ripped out. I made an early appointment with my doctor and gave him a scaled down

description of what had been happening to me. He prescribed sleeping pills under the assumption

that drugged sleep would not produce the same levels of dreaming that I had been having. He also

made an appointment with a psychologist for me. Due to my anxiety he managed to get an

appointment for the next day in Leeds.

That night, I stayed up for as long as I could before taking two sleeping pills and eventually

falling asleep on the settee. I awoke the next morning with the realisation that I couldnt remember

any dreams.

I dressed and took the bus into Leeds St James University Hospital. The psychologist, Dr Taylor, a

man in his late forties, ushered me into his surgery and asked me to sit in front of his desk. I then

explained what had been happening to me, leaving out the nasty bits. He listened, asking the

occasional question.

In his analysis he talked of dreams and astral projections, then he said: You appear to be

breaking new ground Mr Connors. Up until now I thought the concept of the demon soul belonged

to horror and science fiction tales. I wonder what Jung and Freud would make of this? He mused

with a smile. He then regained his serious countenance and continued in his deep voice, So,

summing up what, on the face of it, we have here is the soul being possessed during sleep. Not

normal sleep with dreams, but sleep where your soul, for some reason, is temporarily leaving yourbody.

What can be done?

Well, we can start with some medication. You say there was no activity when you took the

sleeping tablets?

Yes.

These work on a certain part of the brain, so Im going to prescribe something similarjust a bit

stronger. And I will set up an analytical survey.


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Shit! I shouted as the assistant ran over to tend to the psychologist. The doctor, however

jumped up and pressed a red button on the wall.

Wind up the experiment, he said to his colleague as two burly nurses appeared.

Immobilize Mr Connors, he said pointing at me.

Come on Davey-boy, you know I have no option. Youre a danger to others and to yourself, thenurse said to me as I sat on a bed in a strait jacket in an empty room in some mental hospital weeks

later. I didnt know if it was day or night because the bright, electric lights shone all the time.

You cant stop me sleeping all the time! I shouted.

You know the procedure, Im just going to sedate you.

He loaded a hypodermic needle and then with the help of the two other nurses he proceeded to

inject me.

Wait! I shouted. You cant do this, I have rights!

One day or night the door opened and Dr Taylor walked in and threw a bag on the floor. Hegrabbed me and released the strait jacket.

Get some clothes on. he growled with eyes that flickered red.

I pulled on the clothes and shoes that were in the bag. We then left the room. A big nurse appeared

and asked: What are you doing Doctor?

Taylor showed his ID card.

But said the nurse as Taylor grabbed him by the neck and threw him across the hallway.

Outside, Taylor rose into the air. There you go, now go and get some sleep, he said turning

toward me. He then shot off into the dark screaming with laughter. It had appeared that my soul

demon had selected another sleeping partner.



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SLEEPING PARTNER (PART TWO)

A million souls tugged me out of my body and we flew through the starry night, finally landing on a

High Street where a church had been converted into shops. Stamford Lincolnshire, a peaceful town

until

Bastards! I shouted as they flew off. I thought I was clear of this sort of thing It had beenmonths since I was broken out of the mental hospital and, despite living roughly, I had slept

peacefully.

Ah well, I thought. lets see what mischief I canget up to here.

I gazed through the window of a caf. I could see the two red ball-like reflections of my eyes in

the glass as could the young couple sitting in the window seats. The woman started screaming

hysterically as I laughed, pulled up my hood and walked away.

Hey you! shouted the womans boyfriend, who had run out onto the High Street.

Yes? I asked turning around.

You scared my girlfriend, he said approaching me.Yeah well, get over it sonny, I said turning away.

He grabbed me and I instantly swivelled around crouching and pulled his trousers down and

pushed him over. Now consider this a let off son. Go back and sit with your girlfriend. I said as I

stood up and then rose into the air.

I flew over the rooftops eventually landing in the grounds of a church where I accidentally

demolished a wooden noticeboard. I then walked over to a candle-lit pub, which fronted a brewery,

and walked into the perfect semi-darkness.

The place was half full so I walked over to a roaring open fire and sat at an empty table keeping

my hood up. After a few moments of peace a bunch of young people approached.

The females sat at a table opposite me and the men jostled about asking what everyone was

drinking. One boy dressed in a shell-suit and baseball cap looked at me gazing at them and asked:

Whats your problem?

You, I growled.

He then danced around me and pulled my hood down then sprinkled the remainder of the packet of

crisps he had been eating from over me.

Derek stop that! shouted a girl.

Instantly the youth left me and walked over to the table where the group was sitting and, bending

over, he kissed the girl who had shouted. I grabbed the poker from the fire and flew over to their

table and rammed it up his arse.Nowyouve got a problem, I said as I walked away from the screaming youth surrounded by his

shocked pals. I then pulled my hood up and disappeared.

I levitated up the street wondering when I was going to wake up. Nothing happened, so I flew up

through the night. After a while I was drawn to a country estate in the middle of Lincolnshire.

I landed outside three red-illuminated, Gothic-arched windows and peered inside. A hooded

figure in front of an altar in a hall raised his hands over a pentagram drawn in chalk as a group of

other hooded figures chanted some mantra.

Satanists, I thought, these well-off bastards given privileges from Godnever had to work in

their lives seeking some dangerous excitement!Well, if its a demonic visit they crave. Lets give them what they want!


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Show us a sign of your presence Lord! moaned the priest as he swung his head from side to side.

I shape-shifted into a small girl in a white night gown and walked into the hall as the windows

erupted, showering shards of glass everywhere.

Wh- whats this? stuttered a shocked priest.

You wanted me to come, so here I am, I rasped pretentiously as I strode along the middle of the

hall.The hooded group ran to the sides of the hall and cowered. I spun my head and they started howling.

Then, laughing, I rose into the air.

What can we do to be worthy of you my Lord? asked the priest.

Give your possessions to the people who work for you, I commanded before smashing through

the roof.

As I flew through the star-lit sky I again wondered when I would wake up. I usually woke up

sweating and regretting what I had done, I mused cynically from a demon dominated mind. A

thought then hit me:perhaps this is reality, and my cosy little life back in Wetherby was a dream.

Oh well, what the fuck, I said to myself as I spotted a couple having it off in an ancientgraveyard.

I plunged under the turf in another part of the cemetery and blasted my way through to the grave

nearest the couple where I smashed the old coffin, and grabbing as much of the skeleton as I could I

rose through the earth. I then stood invisible gazing at the pair with the moon behind me.

Hovering horizontally a few centimetres above the back of the thrusting male I held the skull

facing forward over his shoulder and said: Now look, youll need to do this somewhere else, Im

trying to rest.

The female started screaming as she stared into the empty eye sockets, and she pushed the male

off of her. I jumped back and landed on my feet. I held the skeleton up like it was some puppet. I

placed the hands onto either side of the pelvis and made the skull look from male to female, who

were standing shaking unable to move.

You shouldnt be doing this sort of thing here, should you? I rasped.

No, they said shaking their heads like two naughty kids.

Well go on fuck off before my fellow sleepers wake up.

I laughed as I watched them run off buttoning up their clothing. I then threw the skeleton away

and rose up into the air. This felt so good I hoped that I never woke up again.

David! a voice thundered across the sky.

I looked around the stars and the darkened land.

David, wake up.I opened my eyes. I was back in the mental hospital. Doctor Taylor the psychologist was standing

over me looking down into my eyes.

What whats going on? I asked. You broke me out of this place!

Im here to check on you David.

I looked around, there were the two usual male nurses standing grinning.

Now you just relax David everythings fine. These two gentlemen will look after you, he said

as he left with a flicker of red in his eyes.



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BOREDOM

There was a knock at the door.

Ill get it! shouted Brian Talbot, a forty year-old, balding man.

He opened the front door to two burly men.

Can I help you? he asked instantly diverting his gaze to the floor.Mr Talbot? asked one of the men.

Yes, yes thats me. Brian said, almost childlike, without looking up.

Mr Talbot were debt collectors from Shield and Bryson, the other man said, showing an ID

card. Were here to collect the six hundred pounds youre due as you havent responded to the

letters weve sent you.

C-c-come in, said Brian, who stuttered when he was nervous.

He stood aside letting the men enter the hall before closing the door.

This way, he said scurrying in front.

Opening a green door he said: My dear there are two men here to collect money we owe.Oh, remarked Jean Talbot looking up, she was exceptionally thin with dark frizzy, greying hair.

Ill put the kettle on, said Brian, beginning to leave the room.

Look, Mr Talbot, we need to discuss one of the debt collectors started to say, but he was

interrupted by Talbot.

It wont take a minute. Please, sit down.

The two men sat in the sparsely furnished living room talking to Jean, who answered all

questions with one word answers, until Brian returned with a tray with four mugs on it. He handed

a mug to each of the men and Jean.

Milk and sugar in each. I hope thats okay?

Yes thats fine, answered one of the men.

Brian Talbot looked at each man then gazed at the floor.

Im afraid J-j-ean isnt feeling very well today, he said.

Are you working at the moment Mr Talbot? one of the debt collectors asked as he took a sip

from his mug.

I was made redundant last month Im afraid.

Where did you work?

In a factory, locally.

Bill, Im feeling a bit drowsy, said one of the men to the other as he stood up and keeled over,

spilling his tea on the carpet, while the other collector passed out on the settee.

Ah, youre with us then, said Brian Talbot as the two men began to come round. They were

strapped into chairs and sat gagged with only their underpants on next to one another with a space

in between. Talbot spoke in a commanding voice as he strutted around in the basement of his house.

Gone were the stutter and the childlike way of talking.

The men groaned and began to struggle as Talbot hauled out a huge butchers knife from a drawer.

He then walked up to each man and looked him in the eye.

Your type come here hassling working people whore going through a hard timeI dont know.

Anyway, I hope youve had a good life up until now, because this is where it all ends!


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Then to the muffled sound of the opening music of Coronation Street above Talbot walked

between the two chairs and slashed the near arm of each victim. The two men struggled more

vigorously as they watched their blood splash onto the floor.

Talbot danced around the chairs, with a protrusion in the groin area of his trousers, slashing and

stabbing his victims until a time when he stopped and retreated into a darkened area of the room.

Then, with choral music from some advert seeping through the ceiling, he reappeared and slashedeach mans throat.

A cold wind blew dead leaves around as two men walked along the front garden path of a 1950s

bungalow and knocked on the door. One, a thick set man with a moustache, flattened his hair with

his hands as the door opened.

Mr Talbot?

Yes, Im B-b-rian Talbot.

Im Detective Sergeant Gary Haddows Yorkshire Police , said the thick set man, showing his

warrant card. This is Detective Constable Jim Nordale, he continued, nodding toward hiscolleague, a tall man with short, red hair.

Can I help you? Talbot asked.

Wed like to ask you a few questions if you dont mind.

Please come in, Talbot said standing aside.

When the door was shut Haddows turned to Talbot and, holding up two photographs, asked: Have

you had a visit by, or have you seen, both or either of these men.

Talbot took the photographs and walked into the lounge followed by the policemen. He examined

them under a lamp.

No Im afraid not. Why, whu-whu-whats happened to them? Oh, this is my wife Jean, he said,

pointing toward his wife sitting in a chair wrapped in a blanket.

Mrs Talbot, nodded Haddows.

Hello, said Jean with a sigh.

Theyre both missing sir, said Nordale.

Oh dear. Where are my manners? Please gentlemen sit down,

After they were seated he continued: Now would you both like a cup of tea?

Whats this about Brian? asked Jean, weakly.

These g-g-gentlemen are looking for these men my dear, Talbot said as he passed her the

photographs.

Have you seen them madam? Haddows asked.No, she said, shaking her head, No I havent.

Okay then, said Haddows as he rose up, If you do hear of something. Heres my card, he said

passing a small, yellow card to Talbot.

Wont you stay for a cup of tea? Talbot asked.

Now Brian, the men are busy, said Jean.

Thank you, but no, Haddows said as both policemen left.

At the police headquarters Haddows sat at his desk with the list of names that the two debt

collectors were to visit on the day they disappeared.


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16

I dont know Jim, that guy Talbot looked vaguely familiar. He said to DC Nordale who was

sitting at another desk working on a computer. And did you see that look in his wifes eyes!

What, that old couple? Give me a break Gary. What would they do to two big guys? Nordale

said looking up from his computer. That guy Talbot was a weak, timid type.

Hmmthats maybe what we were supposed to think.

That night, Haddows sat in a darkened, empty CID room, the only light being his desk lamp. Hewas going through some wanted persons files. Suddenly he came upon the file of Derek Watson a

paranoid schizophrenic who had walked out of a maximum security hospital ten years ago, where

he was serving a sentence for murder, posing as the doctor he had just killed.

Got you! You bastard! he shouted.

A woman jumped out of her Audi and stared at one house then another and then decided to pick the

second, so she walked along the front garden path in her dark blue, pinstriped power suit with her

long, red hair bouncing.

Y-y-yes? Brian Talbot asked, sounding like a shy child as he answered the door.Hello, Im Geraldine Edny. I represent Denby Constuction, you have been chosen for this

months prize of a free estimate for a quality conservatory.

Come in my dear. Jean, my wife, and I were th-th-thinking of getting a conservatory where we

could sit and watch the s-s-s-setting sun.

Jean, this young woman is going to give us a free estimate for a conservatory where we can sit

instead of in here all the time, Talbot said, leading the saleswoman into the living room.

Oh Brian, I dont know sighed Jean as she looked Edny up and down.

Please sit down. Would you like a n-n-nice cup of tea? Brian asked rubbing his hands.

Why yes, that would be great, said Geraldine as she sat on the settee.

Brian left the room to fetch the tea.

Listen my dear, I dont think we need a conservatory. Were fine as we are, said Jean

What about your husband, he seems to be under the apprehension that you were wanting a

conservatory?

No, I think you should probably leave.

Well, I all ways listen to wives, said Geraldine as she rose up.

Where are you going? Heres your tea, and Ive buttered some scones, said Brian as he entered

the room.

But, your wife

Never mind Jean. Shes an old skinflint! Brian said casting a look at Jean.

Hello Geraldine, said Talbot to the woman as she began to come out of the drug-induced sleep.

Her long-red hair had been crudely cut off and she had been stripped of her suit. She sat strapped

into a chair in her under clothes.

The confidant Brian Talbot walked around the chair which was illuminated from one small spot

light from abovethe rest of the room being in shadow.

Now madam, how does it feel no power suit, no long-red hair. And, Im going to take your

dignity.

Youre mad! whined Geraldine. If youre going to rape me just get on with it!


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Rape you! On no, Im not going to rape you. You are going to beg me for your life, however,

Im afraid. Talbot said as he faded into the shadow.

Then after a while with the strains of the theme tune to East Enders filtering down from above

Talbot appeared out of the dark with a butchers knife in one hand. Geraldine started struggling and

screaming.

It wont do no good. You see, shes deaf upstairs especially when the soaps are on. Talbotsaid as he approached the chair.

Geraldine began shaking violently as the raised knife glinted in the light. Suddenly a hand

grabbed Talbot around the head and a knife slit his throat spurting blood out over his clothes.

Youre not going to harm any part of that girls body you bastard, said Jean as she let her

husband drop to the floor with the butchers knife clattering away into the darkness.

Haddows and other police burst in to the scene as Jean released the sobbing Geraldine.

I dont care what you do with me as long as he cant harm anyone else. Ive lived too long with

it. Jean announced.

At the police station DS Haddows interviewed Jean Talbot in the squalid interview room in the

presence of an appointed solicitor.

Now Mrs Talbot what is your real name?

Im Valerie Wales.

And you lived as man and wife with Brian Talbot.

Yes thats right. His real name is Derek Watson, she said placing a nervous finger on her

lower lip.

I want you to tell me of the day the two debt collectors called.

Valerie described the whole event.

And did you help him downstairs with the bodies Valerie?

No! Detective Sergeant, you probably wont believe this but, I hate violence. I only stayed

with Derek because I thought he had mended his ways and because I was frightened of him.

Why, after ten years do you think he had returned to his killing ways?

I dont know. I suppose through boredom!



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18

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE

I hated the nights they drank. The shouting and screaming went on all night. My mother and her

boyfriend had been together for three months now. Unfortunately my bedroom was right next to

hers, so I heard everything. She often came in to see if I was all right and breathed alcoholic fumes

over me.I hated her boyfriend, Ron, he looked like a caveman with tattoos. Often, when he left in

the morning I would be sitting in the kitchen having my breakfast and he would glower at me

and grunt.

On my way to school I looked at other kids, and thought: Why cant I have a normal, happy

childhood?

Whats wrong with you Martin? my mother asked me once when she saw me staring

unhappily into space.

I want dad back. That would make me happy.

You know thats not possible hes gone to heaven. You mean hes dead. Mum - Im 11! I said with a sigh. And I dont like youre boyfriend!

Ron makes me laugh. Surely Im allowed to be happy!

I want to be happy too, I said, stomping out of the room.

I was taken on holiday to Gran Canaria where I enjoyed the sunshine. We stayed in an apartment

at a place called Koala Gardens in Maspalomas. I slept on the settee in the living room while my

mother and Ron occupied the only bedroom.

They went out drinking every night, so I just did my own thing.

Occasionally my mother would say, Oh, lets all go down to the beach tomorrow , before she

went out for the evening. Then the next day she would say that she wasnt feeling well!

One morning, I left the apartment and walked in the direction of the beach as the sun crept over

the tops of the palm trees. I walked along paths which cut through well-trimmed, water-soaked

parkland.

I was drawn by screams of joy to a large fence which surrounded a water park. Oceanic Park

was teeming with families enjoying themselves in the sun. Kids were sliding down the water chutes

and wading through the shallow pools. Adults were sunning themselves while keeping a watchful

eye on the children.

Two boys ran up to the fence where I was standing and banged their fists into the wire mesh. I

jumped back in shock.

Come in and join us, one of them said, smiling.I felt my heart lighten as the other boy pulled up part of the fence.

I was about to crawl under when something in my mind shouted: Stop! What are you doing?

I stepped back and shook my head. Suddenly the two boys wrinkled into skeletons before

becoming dust. The water on the chutes dried up and small lizards scampered across the hot plastic.

I stepped further back from the fence shaking my head. The loungers which had people on them

by sparkling pools were now broken wrecks sitting by empty pits. The brightly painted signs were

now peeling and broken. I turned and ran until my legs hurt.

Eventually I slowed down as I approached a busy road. I was about to cross as a hand tugged me

back and someone shouted something in Spanish. I shook free and ran on along by a storm drainwhere stately palm trees stood in lines on either side.


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19

I could see people wrinkling to skeletons on every side the paradise was rapidly becoming hell. I

ran on toward a lighthouse and suddenly found myself on a beach. I started shrieking as people on

loungers became skeletons. The ocean dried up and the beach stretched on forever into the distance.

I stepped on a bus which took me back to Koala Gardens.

Martin, where have you been? I was worried, my mother said as I walked into the apartmentthrough the small terraced area which looked on to the pool.

Oh, you know? Just went out for a walk.

Ron was lying on a lounger on the terrace listening to music while reading a magazine.

I shouted: kick the ball dad! as my father ran up to the plastic football in our back garden.

He kicked it clean over the fence hitting the washing on the line next door. We then collapsed

laughing onto the lawn.

Martin, he said.

I woke up in the living room of the apartment, the early morning sun was streaming in betweenthe curtains. Loud snoring was coming from the bedroom .

Martin, said my father.

I sat up and looked around. Why did I hear my fathers voice? Was it reaching me from the

dream? I jumped off the sofa and opened the curtains. I decided that I had been hearing things as

my father had been dead for over two years.

Dressing and then grabbing a drink from the fridge I went and sat on a plastic seat on the terrace.

I gazed at a couple taking an early dip in the pool as I took a sip.


I dropped my drink and stood up. The voice seemed to be wafting on the breeze from beyond

the apartments. I instinctively left the terrace, walked around the pool and left the area in the

direction of the voice.

I left Koala Gardens and crossed a road and walked along a well-trimmed path until I reached a

familiar area.


I peered through the palm trees at the fence of Oceanic Park. The water was back, and children

slid down the chutes. Grown-ups on loungers splashed sun cream over their skin. My father

walked up to the fence.

Come on Martin, he coaxed. I want you to be with me son.

Dad! I shouted running up to the fence.He lifted the wire and said: Come on son. Ive missed you.

I started to duck and was suddenly jerked back by a hand with a tattoo on it.

Martin what are you doing son, said Ron, turning me to face him.

Leave me alone. I want to go and be with my dad and the happy kids. They want my

friendship.

Ron crouched down and looked at me. Despite what you think of me , Im a medium I mean I

speak to dead people. And believe me son your great father isnt there. They dont want your

friendship, they want your soul. I hope you understand what Im telling you.

I turned toward the fence and my father looked at me with pleading eyes.


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20

Ron turned me back to face him. Whatever you see on the other side of that fence isnt real. What

is real is that your mother loves you.



21/32

21

RAGE

Give me your money you fat bastard! said Kenny Thom as he stood threateningly over me.

Okay, just dont hit me I squealed as I handed over my dinner money.

You pathetic little wanker, he said as he shook his open fist in the masturbating sign.

Then, watching as he and his mates walked over the school playground and terrorised another kid,an acute anger build up in me something I had never felt before.

I stood behind the hedge in Baxter Park in the twilight of the September evening as Thom waved

goodbye to his friends. I felt the solidity of the bat in my hands. I ran up silently behind him

checking from side to side for witnesses, of which there were none, and struck him on the back of

the head, and he fell onto the grass. I then pushed the bat into my belt before releasing a torrent of

kicks and punches leaving the bastard unconscious and bleeding.

I never saw him again. There was a huge hunt for the perpetrator, but no one was found. It was

believed that he had been set upon by a gang from out of town who were searching for money, anda cash-grabbing bully was the ideal target.

The rage never possessed me again until I was thirty and a parent. I was walking over a road

crossing with my eighteen month-old son Billy in my arms when a red BMW 3 series coupe

came speeding up and pulled up a few inches from me. I walked slowly over as a young woman

sitting in the drivers seat gave me the wanker sign. I noted the registration as she sped off.

After much searching over a few weeks I finally found the car parked in the driveway of a large

house in a well-to-do area of the town. I made a mental note of the address then, returning at night,

I followed the car in my old Ford as it pulled out of the driveway keeping the picture of the wanker

sign in my mind.

The BMW stopped to pick up a young man in the centre of town before parking at a hotel on the

outskirts. I then waited for an hour and a half before the pair left the hotel bar and re-entered the car.

I followed them down to the darkened seafront where they parked in an empty promenade. Passing

the BMW I parked further along the Promenade. I then turned off the engine and stared at the sea

for twenty minutes before pulling on a full face balaclava and a pair of leather gloves. I then left

the car and headed into the darkness.

Seagulls screeched as I crept up to the rocking car. I pulled open the passengers door to witness

a writhing couple.

What the fuck! shouted the male as I pulled him off the screaming female and head butted

him. I laughed at his shrinking penis as I lifted him up above my head and then walking toward theseawall I threw him over.

I returned to the car where the female was pulling up her clothes in the drivers seat and trying

to nervously put the key in the ignition. I grabbed the key and threw it over the seawall.

What is it you want? she screamed. Ill get money for you from my father.

I dont want your money you silly little girl. I want retribution!

She opened the drivers door and started to run , in bare feet , toward the cliffs. I followed along the

darkened walkway, strollingas I knew there would be no one else around at this time. I watched

her shadow run up the path that led to the top of Whiting Nessthe start of the cliffs.

I followed up the path and walked along the cliff top path eventually watching the runningshadow head along the footpath of a sea stack before ducking out of sight.


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Where are you? I taunted as I walked to where I knew she was hiding.

The wind rushed through the tufts of grass as I stood on the path staring out at the moon- silvered

sea. Then she stood up and shouted: Leave me alone you.

Suddenly she slid down the shrub strewn cliff top and hung on to a ledge by her fingertips over

the writhing sea. I rushed over and, crouching down, I said: Give me your hand.

With one hand slipping she raised her other hand. I made to grasp her, but instead of clutchingher hand I instigated the masturbating hand movement.

For months I felt miserable as the services searched for the missing daughter of the bank manager,

Henry Grieg. The police had drawn a blank as to why her car was found on the promenade and a

male body on the foreshore.

One day I was walking down a street when I watched a youth threaten an old woman.

Stop that! I shouted as I ran toward the youth , who turned suddenly and stabbed me in the

abdomen. I instantly fell back shocked ,and hit the ground.

Rising up, I looked at my bleeding body and thought- surely this isnt where it ends!

Then I turned to the youth who was laughing and, as he turned back to the old woman, he gave mybody the wanker sign. I felt the rage draw me back into my body.



23/32

23

FALLING LEAVES

The sun shone between dashing white clouds as Charles Grey made his way across Cathedral Close

toward the massive West Front of Peterborough Cathedral where a group of boys dressed in red

stood with their parents. He sighed climbing the few steps and unlocking the outer doors as he had

done every day for the past ten years since becoming caretaker.Okay, come on in, he said as he entered the darkened foyer. He then unlocked a pair of heavy,

wooden doors and pushed them open.

The boys followed him in and then ran toward the Choir area shouting excitedly. Most of the

grown-ups left after shouting instructions.

Inside, the cathedral smelled like a mausoleum as Grey flicked some switches and then made his

way down the right side of the Nave. A soft light shone through ancient windows and illuminated

the pillars of ancient arches. Suddenly a scream made him stop and look toward the area under the

Tower. A boy was pointing upwards. Other choirboys ran from the choir area and began screaming

as they stared up into the tower.The caretaker entered the Tower area and gasped at the large pool of blood on the tiled floor. He

stared at the choirboys who were all pointing upwards. Slowly he raised his head up and gazed in

horror at the white, distorted face of Dean David Ellis, which stared at him with dead eyes. Blood

was dripping from the forehead and nose, and the tongue hung out of the side of the open mouth.

The caretaker jumped back in shock his mind not being able to register why the Dean was staring at

him upside-down from mid-air. Then he saw that the body was suspended from above on an

upturned cross.

You boys! he shouted, coming back to his senses, back outsidenow!

The few grown-ups who had remained herded the boys out of the building.

John Fellows, the organist, ran up to where the caretaker was standing and put his two hands over

his mouth as he looked up. Oh poor David! he cried.

Charles Grey pulled his mobile out of his pocket and rang 999.

How could someone do this? Fellows asked no onein particular as the caretaker was talking on

his phone.

Where did the cross come from? Grey asked as he finished the call and pushed his mobile back

into his pocket.

The two men then looked around along the Nave toward the West Front door.

The Hanging Christ its gone! the organist shouted as he pointed above the Choir area.

The Deans been strung to the cross from the Hanging Christ! Charles Grey growled.

Detective Inspector Alexander Kelly threw down his newspaper as his boss, Detective

Superintendent Douglas Bell walked into the CID office of Thorpe Wood Police Station. Kelly ran

a hand across his cropped, red hair and then finished his coffee and casually threw the paper cup

into the litter bin.

Sandy. Bell said, shaking his head and gazing at the floor as he approached Kellys desk.

Sir?

The Dean up at the cathedral. Hes been murdered. Apparently been strung up or something!

What?Will you and Phil head up there.


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Shit! Okay sir, said Kelly rising from his seat looking at Detective Sergeant Philip Metcalfe.

The pair left the station in Metcalfes Vauxhall Insignia.

Looks like well get some proper police work on this one Sandy? Metcalfe said as he drove.

Proper police work! said Kellycynically in his strong Glaswegian accent. You lot down here

wouldnt know proper police work if you found it in your soup! continued Kelly who had learnt

his trade in the East End of Glasgow; his face still showing the scars of breaking up bar brawls andseparating rival football fans.

The Cathedral Close was packed with vehicles, and the flashing blue lights of five police vans made

the Gothic West Front look like something from a carnivals ghost train frontage as the detectives

climbed the steps.

DI Kelly and DS Metcalfe, said Kelly to the copper standing at the main door as the men

showed their warrant cards.

Okay sir, said the policeman standing aside.

The detectives pulled on shoe covers and investigation gloves and then entered the cathedral.Inside, men in white suits were dusting and searching. A man in a green suit was standing under the

Tower gazing upwards and discussing something with a uniform sergeant.

Kelly and Metcalfe strode down the Nave and joined the two men.

Jesus! Metcalfe exclaimed as he looked up.

DI Kelly and DS Metcalfe said Kelly to the man in the green suit, but with eyes on the hanging

corpse.

Im Doctor Walker the pathologist.

Kelly walked around the area of the tower base while looking at the victim, never seen anything

like this Dave, he said to the sergeant.

Hell no Sandy, replied the sergeant looking at the corpse.

Who found the body? Kelly asked.

The caretaker. Along with some choirboys, said the sergeant.

Shit! said Metcalfe, shaking his head.

Shits the word all right. Hes outside having a fag and a cup of tea. His names Charles Grey.

Okay thanks Dave, well have a word. Will you get your guys to start asking questions around

the general area. Kelly then looked at the pathologist. Not much point in asking for a time

doctor,

No, Ill need to get the poor chap down for that.

Yes, of course.DS Metcalfe moved round to where Kelly was standing as the other two men moved off. What

do you reckon sir?

I dont know. Are we looking at the work of one strong man or a group? I mean the weight of the

cross? And the victim has been hauled up with that wire which goes over that bar on the side of the

tower and back down attaching to the side wall over there, said Kelly pointing to the side of the

Nave adjacent to the Tower.

The two men looked at the side of the Nave wall where the wire was attached as a small, plump

man approached them.

Can I speak to whoever is in charge? asked the man whose lower lip quivered when he spoke.That would be me sir. Im Detective Inspector Kelly.


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I want everything done that can be done Inspector.

And you are sir?

Im John Balfour the Chancellor.

Okay then sir. Everything will be done to find out who did this.

I hope so, said Balfour as he turned and walked back along the Nave, I hope so!

Kelly and Metcalfe walked back to where the victim hung.Wasnt there a few gruesome murders in cathedrals years ago that were never solved. Im sure I

read about them. They were in the 1980s, a bit before my time, said Metcalfe in his thick East

Midlands accent.

Yeah, there was. Three of them I think, said Kelly as he raised his head and looked at the dead

clergy mans blood sodden face, thing is, if this is the work of the same person or persons, whats

returned them to their killing ways?

The uniform sergeant and Charles Grey, the caretaker, walked along the nave to where the two

detectives were standing.

Sandy, this isMr Greythe caretaker, said the sergeant.Ah, Mr Grey, can you show us how the mechanism for lowering the cross works?

Yes, its over here, said the caretaker walking over to the side of the nave.

Kelly signalled to uniformed officers while he watched. And then, taking Grey along the nave

toward the front door, he asked: Can I have the names and addresses of anyone apart from

yourself who lowers the cross for any reason?

Yes, of course. Theyre mainly friends of mine and are volunteers.

At Thorpe Wood Police Station Kelly discovered from his computer that there were indeed three

unsolved murders in three cathedrals in England. The first was the murder of a member of the

clergy at Durham Cathedral, found in a small chapel within the cathedral, in 1980. The second

murder victim in 1983 was found sitting in the Choir stalls of York Cathedral. The third murder

happened in the same year at Lincoln Cathedral. In all the murders the victims were beaten and

strangled then placed at the crime scene.

Kelly then phoned up Durham Police and was put in contact with the detective, now retired, who

was in charge of the first murder - DCI Ian Holding. He found out that although the forensics

were primitive compared with today there was nothing to go on. A modern day forensic test was

carried out on a piece of clothing from the first case a few years ago and again nothing was found.

I was at all three crime scenes, and I reckon that they were all done by the same killer a man

driven by the need to destroy something from his past not, as others thought, to attack a certain

religion, said Holding staring at Kelly, who had travelled to his home in Durham.The Durham Police questioned thousands including several occult groups, HellsAngels and even

Heavy Metal fanatics all with the same negative result, he continued, the individual wasnt a

member of any of those groupshe was outwardly normal, but twisted inside. He then gazed out

his living room window. I thought he was dead until this latest murder, if it was done by the same

person.

Do you know of any reason why he would start again? Kelly asks.

Could be any number of factors: something annoying him or something cropping up from his

past.

I saw from the files that there were a few suspects, do you have any leaning toward any ofthem?


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There was Gerard ONeil, a loner from Hartlepool, who despised us and Protestants. He was a

Scotsman who was thrown out of a radical Irish group in Glasgow for his views . He moved to

Hartlepool and worked in the fishing industry. He was picked up after telling someone in a public

house that he hated Protestants and that he murdered the clergyman at Durham. An alibi was,

however, provided by his partner a woman he stayed with. Other names were John Daniels a

married postman and Luke Cunningham a vicars son both who had strong alibis.The retired policeman also told Kelly that they rounded up all the known burglars in the area on

the assumption that the crime was a burglary that went wrong. Although there was nothing taken

the surprised criminal could have strangled the clergyman and made it look like an anti-religion

murder. Kelly also found out the names of two retired detectives: one who headed the York

investigation and the other - the Lincoln case.

While driving Kelly thought of his childhood where he and his brother Sean feared their father

coming home to the familys flat in the East End of Glasgow drunk after an all-day session. Their

mother would make them hide in a dirty cupboard until their father eventually fell into a drunken

slumber. They would hear the man beat their mother before stomping around looking for them. Thisoften happened if he made it home without being arrested for fighting.

Kelly sighs as he remembers of one morning the two boys were sitting having their breakfast in

the grubby kitchen when their father stumbled in, sat down and demanded a cup of tea before

spewing up blood. He was eventually taken away to hospital, but pronounced dead on arrival much

to the relief of the boys and their mother.

Metcalfe and Kelly find out about two other suspects from the two retired detectives. The first was

David Johnson a travelling salesman from York who had a record for violence and, was seen by a

witness around the Minster at the time of the murder, but his wife provided a semi-tenable alibi.

The second was Gordon Talbot a bed and breakfast owner from Mablethorpe where the police

received a tip-off that he was responsible for the Lincoln murder, but an alibi was provided by his

partner in the business. The tip-off , it was assumed, was made by a jealous gay lover. It was

discovered that the Precentor murdered at Lincoln Cathedral was gay.

The day after Kelly returned from Durham he had just reached his desk in the CID room as his

phone began to ring.

Hello DI Kelly.

Sergeant Jones Ely Police here. Weve been alerted that a body has been found in the cathedral

here!Okay. Im on my way.

Kelly and Metcalfe drive quickly to Ely and draw up outside the cathedral as a uniform sergeant

and a constable leave the building.

Were here to investigate the body found inside, said Kelly

Oh yeah theres a body hanging inside okay, said the sergeant sarcastically

Puzzled, they enter the building to find a dummy hanging from an arch halfway down the Nave. A

large card hung around its neck saying abortion kills.

The receptionist was first in this morning and panicked when she saw a hanging body due to

what had happened in Peterborough, said the sergeant who had followed the detectives inside.


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Back at Thorpe Wood Police Station the two detectives and other CID officers decide to start

tracking down the suspects from the previous killings as they are getting nowhere with local

criminals and occult groups. They reckon a good place to start is with David Johnson the travelling

salesman as he could travel freely about the country without anyone keeping track.

Kelly and Metcalfe found out that Johnson was now a company director in York and had

remarried. Kelly suggested they visit Johnsons ex-wife in Knaresborough where she lived with amale partner.

Lisa Toner told them that Johnson was away a lot , but after staying with the man for eight years

she did not think that he would kill someone despite having a record for violence in his earlier

days.

They called on the company that Johnson ran and received a frosty reception. But, eventually,

were furnished with alibis from several employees for the time of the murder.

The detectives found out that Gerard ONeil now lived alone in Sunderland and was unemployed.

They drove north and talked to him in his council house. You lot are all protestants and Freemasons, he said to the men from a drug -sodden brain,

which brought a well-used glower from Kelly.

Come on now Gerard you can do better than that, said Metcalfe.

Why dont you fuck off and ask that whore I used to stay with in Hartlepool.

The detectives then headed south to Mablethorpe, a seaside resort on the Lincolnshire coast,

where they found an ageing Gordon Talbot running the Admiral Benbow Hotel with his partner of

five years. They found out from his partner that Talbot was behind the bar on the night of the

murder in Peterborough. Talbot himself became cagey when asked about his previous partner, so

the policemen left and traced Derek Rimes who was living in Sutton on Sea.

Rimes told Kelly and Metcalfe that he wasnt too sure to what extent , but Talbot knew the

murdered clergyman at Lincoln Cathedral.

I was called to a barney between two gays when I was in uniform. Jeez, they were vicious. The

place they lived in was totally trashed. Metcalfe said as they drove back to Peterborough.

The news that the person behind the hanging dummy in Ely Cathedral was an anti-abortionist

came as no surprise to Kelly. The police in Ely were holding Frederick Colson, who was protesting

against the Bishop of Elys pro-abortion stance, for questioning. Kelly wasted no time in getting

there and subjecting the man to rigorous questioning. The detective told him that at the least he

would be charged with breaking and entering and with wasting police time. Interestingly, Kelly

found out that Colson had no alibi for the time of the murder at Peterborough Cathedral and decidedto hold him longer.

Kelly entered his house after a long day and kissed his wife.

Theres a package for you in the kitchen Sandy, she said as she climbed the stairs.

A package I never ordered anything!

He opened the brown paper package to find a book, Falling Leaves by Edward Vance. A small

note dropped out which said: You were the lucky one.

The book was about two boys: one, who was brought up by an authoritarian father who beat him

and told him he was useless. The other was brought up by a father who just didnt care. The firstboy, when he grew up, hit back at his father by destroying what the


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man idolized - the medical profession. The son, started murdering doctors. Ironically the other boy

grew-up to be a doctor

Instinctively Kelly put the whole package in a sample bag and sealed it.

The next day Metcalfes desk phone rang.

Metcalfe?

Phil its Micky Taylor - Lincolnshire Police.Mickey! How you doing?

Fine. Listen, that gay hotel owner Gordon Talbot is being charged with attempted murder. He

tried to beat Derek Rimes to death and would have done so if Rimes neighbours hadnt

intervened.

Kelly and Metcalfe travelled back to Lincolnshire to discover that Talbot found out that Rimes

told them that Talbot knew the murdered gay clergyman. They questioned Talbot, who told them

that the gay community was much more enclosed in those days, and everyone knew everyone else

in a certain area. He went on to tell them that Rimes probably knew him also.

The detectives then talked to one of Rimes neighbours who told them that he heard arguing andthen crashing noises. He intervened when he heard Rimes screaming for help. He says that it took

him and Ian the neighbour from the other side to stop Talbot from throttling Rimes.

Back in Thorpe Wood Kelly was working on his computer as Detective Superintendent Bell

entered the CID room.

Anti-abortionist groups are demonstrating outside Ely Police Station Sandy; so the word is

either charge Frederick Colson or let him go, he said as he hovered over Kellys desk.

That night Kelly soaked in a hot bath and considered his options. He would release Colson with

no charge just a kick up the arse. The book: Was it a cry for help? Strict father! I was the lucky one?

The house lay on a quiet cul-de-sac in Durham. Metcalfe rung the bell and then looked in the lower

windows. After a few minutes the two policemen headed around the back and were told by a

neighbour that the owner had been in a mental hospital for a number of years - Dronell Hospital, a

low security institution in Leicestershire.

The detectives drove back south and Kelly headed on to the hospital.

The policeman was led to a day room in a modern ward and introduced to Luke Cunningham

who was sitting absent-mindedly watching television. The patient, who seemed to be in poor

physical health, looked up and smiled then looked down again, quickly. He gave one word answers

to any questions the policeman asked him.

Kelly was told that Cunningham had Bipolar Disorder. He also found out that he was firstadmitted to a high security hospital in 1984 after his father died. He was then stepped down to

medium security in 1996 and finally to low in 2007. In low security, patients such as Cunningham

are allowed out when they want and are supervised.

Next, Kelly called Ian Holding and was told that he knew Cunningham was in a mental hospital,

because he went crazy after his father died, but the alibi for the Durham murder from his father the

vicar still stood. He also told Kelly that he knew the boys father and that he was a bit strict with

him. The boy had a hard time of it, but was no killer. Kelly told Holding that the reason the murders

had begun again was because the killer wasnt finished.


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In the CID room Metcalfe asked Kelly why he thought the murderer hadnt finished. Kelly took a

felt pen and strode up to a blank, white board and wrote out:

1 Durham - Canon

2 YorkChancellor

3 LincolnPrecentor4 PeterboroughDean

RightPhil. What do you see?

The cathedral murders.

Look at the victims. The murderer is working through cathedral dignitaries! Each victim has a

higher standing than the previous!

Oh yeah!

Now, looking at the list, what position is next?

Shit!Look at the geographical sequence.

Yeah north to south.

Question is : What cathedral in the south of England?

The forensics on the book wrapping and the note came back, and an arrest warrant for Luke

Cunningham was issued, but when the arresting officers entered Dronell Hospital he was gone.

Kelly strolls into the CID room and sits on the edge of Metcalfes desk with a paper cup of

steaming coffee.

Listen Phil, Im going to Canterbury tomorrow because Ive found out that the Archb ishop is to

be in the cathedral tomorrow, and Im pretty certain that Cunningham will be there.

What, on your own?

I dont want a strong police presence to scare Cunningham off, Kelly said as he took a sip of

coffee. Tomorrow, could you tell Bell that Ive gone to Lincoln to interview someone.

Okay mate.

A storm set into the south of England as the detective arrived in Canterbury. He parked his car

and walked to the cathedral which was surrounded by people. Kelly surveyed the precinct area andthen, seeing nothing out of place, he headed inside.

A mass of people were following a guide around on a tour. Other people and clergy were

strolling around marvelling at the building as the wind howled outside.

Kelly walked along the Nave then through the Quire not really knowing what to expect, when he

noticed a vicar kneeling in the Trinity Chapel before an altar. The man glanced round at Kelly and

then quickly returned his gaze back to the altar. Suddenly the chapel was filled with people as the

tour flooded in. Kelly looked desperately through the crowd, but the clergyman was gone. He

pushed his way past the tourists and caught the sight of the Vicar leaving the chapel. Following the

man Kelly saw him slip through the door to the Bell Harry Tower.


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As the detective walked up to the tower door an attendant stepped in front of him and told him

that the tower was closed due to the weather. Kelly flashed his warrant card and instructed the man

to allow no one else through.

After climbing some 200 steps Kelly burst out on to the roof of the tower. The wind was very

strong and howled around the turrets. The heavy rain was making the roof surface slippery.

Kelly searched around, but couldnt find anyone. He feared that Cunningham had jumped orfallen. He bent over the small perimeter wall to look over the north side when a strong gust caught

him from the side and rendered him unbalanced. A shadow suddenly appeared from nowhere and

pushed him over the side and then caught him in a powerful grip before he fell.

After he caught his breath the detective looked up into the rain-lashed face of Cunningham, who

looked much bigger and stronger than the man who had sat in the hospital. Luke Cunningham put

one of Kellys hands onto a decorative opening in the wall, but otherwise held him where he was.

Why the cathedrals man? Kelly asked.

The only time my father allowed me out of my room when I was a child was to accompany him

to a cathedral, where I would stand around waiting while he spoke to Deans and the like. I grew tohate the places. Cunningham said as he looked up into the pouring rain and then said: Your

fatherdid you really hate him?

Yes, answered Kelly after a pause. The Book Falling Leaves.

The only book my father allowed in the house was the bible. When I was allowed out of the

house in my late teens I went to the library and I found Falling Leavesit struck a chord!

Kelly gazed with pity into the mans wild eyes as his mobile rang in his pocke t, which was just

audible over the sound of the wind. Cunningham became suspicious and suddenly leapt over the

top of Kelly shouting that his father beat him to drive out the demons!

Metcalfe and Superintendent Bell were in the CID office of Thorpe Wood Police Station along

with Kelly who was standing staring out of the window. Bell summed-up by saying that

Cunningham murdered these men to gain a kind of revenge on his strict fatherthe Vicar, and that

DCI Holding was a friend of the family. And when the father died the son was committed.

Yes, said Kelly, it was more of a desperate cry to be noticed from a sick mind.

What about the supervision at the low security hospital? Metcalfe asked

The staff were just covering their arses there was no supervision. The patients who were just

about to be discharged were free to come and go as they pleased. Kelly answered as he looked at

the two men. Cunningham was seriously ill with this bipolar disorder among other things, and the

murders stopped when he was in the high security hospital. And finally he gave himself up to methe son of another kind of terrorizing father.



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